Thanks to SpinalTap for drawing my attention to AssetUpnp.

I have been keen on dBpoweramp for years but was unaware of Illustrate’s latest offerings. I do not have Roon because its cost is high for marginal gain if you have Sooloos (which I do). Besides, Sooloos for me was always as much about neat hardware as well as the software. However, with the rapid changes in the streaming marketplace for hardware I can completely understand Meridian’s withdrawal from proprietary hardware to well priced, high quality more generic hardware even if it doesn’t have the design brilliance that in my view made M’s name as much as the great sound quality.

But, Roon is just software and expensive at that (their hardware seems rather late to market and not that distinctive). AssetUpnp seems to offer Roon like capability (and a Sooloos substitute) at much lower cost and with Illustrate’s long track record of continual development to add comfort when viewed as a buyer, together with wide hardware flexibility.

I haven’t used AssetUpnp yet, but against this kind of competition how long has Roon got?

Cinema/Music: Trinnov Altitude32 8-16,218,Cloud 4 channel, Marantz UD5007,DSP5200SE(2+C),DSP3300(4),DSW(2),271,MShort Ceilings,AppleTV 4K
TV: Marantz SR7013 Wharfedale Diamond 9x4+Celestion(C)
Music: Roon,i7NUC8gen,QNAP TS253A, Sony Scala, MS200, Garrard DDQ650,Wharfedale Diamond 12.3
Kitchen: AD88 (bluetooth via i80).